Artwork
Entrance to the Faubourg, Saint-Marceau, Paris
Entrance to the Faubourg, Saint-Marceau, Paris is a print by the Impressionist artist Charles Meryon. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Entrance to the Faubourg, Saint-Marceau, Paris, an 1850 etching by Charles Meryon, captures a serene Parisian street scene, characteristic of the artist's atmospheric urban landscapes.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts everyday life in a quiet, small-town setting within Paris, featuring a river, buildings, a horse-drawn cart, trees, fields, and a fence. Meryon emphasizes ordinary moments over grandeur.
Technique & Style
Meryon's etching technique imbues the scene with a sense of movement through the lean of buildings and the curl of smoke, despite the overall stillness. His colour blindness likely influenced his mastery of monochromatic depth and detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, this etching is part of Meryon's series of Parisian views. As a leading 19th-century French etcher, Meryon's work is notable for its Gothic, atmospheric interpretation of the city.
Context
This work aligns with the Realist movement's focus on depicting ordinary life, though Meryon's distinctive style adds a unique, somewhat melancholic, atmospheric layer to the genre.
Legacy
Entrance to the Faubourg, Saint-Marceau, Paris contributes to Meryon's reputation as the most significant etcher of 19th-century France, influencing the representation of urban landscapes in printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Meryon (sometimes Méryon, 23 November 1821 – 14 February 1868) was a French artist who worked almost entirely in etching, as he had colour blindness.
